Chapter 110 Betrayal
In the past, Yan Jiarou would never have woken up in the middle of the night, but this time, she had something on her mind and was holding on to something, which is why she was suddenly awakened in the middle of the night.
During dinner earlier, she claimed that she hadn't had a good appetite lately and wanted to drink a certain kind of herbal soup, and she coaxed Xiao Che to have someone make it for her.
She had been fed too much by Xiao Che lately, and was quite lethargic, so her appetite was indeed poor. Therefore, Xiao Che did not suspect anything and immediately had someone prepare the medicine according to the recipe Yan Jiarou had given him.
However, she changed the prescription to a calming soup. After being bitten by a wild fox, she often had nightmares and woke up easily at night. Yingxue asked the imperial physician to prescribe a calming soup for her. At first, the effect was not obvious. Later, at her repeated request, a strong medicine was added. After taking it, she slept soundly all night and never woke up at night.
However, this medicine should not be used too often, otherwise it will harm the body. She only used it three or five times. Later, she got together with Xiao Che, and he was willing to be her antidote. Since then, she has slept very soundly and no longer needs that medicine.
Xiao Che ordered someone to prepare the medicinal soup and bring it to her. She then threw a tantrum, saying that it was poorly made and that they must have forgotten to add honey and licorice. She said it was terribly bitter and extremely unpalatable, and that she would only calm down if Xiao Che drank it and apologized to her.
Xiao Che spoiled her too much; she actually did as he said.
She didn't actually want to give Xiao Che this medicine, but she had to act expediently to save Xiao Jue. One time wouldn't be a big deal.
She got up in the darkness and, by the dim moonlight from the window, looked at Xiao Che lying beside her.
She deliberately catered to him tonight, making him do it several times, which exhausted him a lot.
In addition, he drank her calming soup, so he slept exceptionally soundly.
His breathing was deep and even, his sleeping face peaceful and beautiful. She looked at him for a while, then tentatively called out, "Brother?"
As expected, there was no response.
She breathed a sigh of relief, tiptoed out of bed, and once outside, picked up her scattered clothes, put on her cloak, and quietly opened the door...
It wouldn't have been difficult for her to sneak out. A few days ago, Xiao Che had specially carved a hidden door for her to make it easier for her to come over. This door led directly to Chenghuan Palace without her having to go through the main gate, allowing her to bypass the palace guards without anyone noticing.
As for the other palace servants who were not on duty, they had already fallen asleep and naturally could not find her.
Yan Jiarou left Hanguang Hall without any trouble.
After leaving, she did not return to Chenghuan Palace, but instead took a detour to the East Palace.
——
When Su Quan woke Xiao Jue up and told him that Yan Jiarou was waiting for him at the East Palace, he thought he was dreaming.
He glanced at the dark sky outside the window and frowned, "Why is Jia Rou here at this hour?"
Su Quan was initially worried that waking Xiao Jue at this hour would anger him, but seeing that he didn't seem to be angry, he breathed a sigh of relief: "Your Highness, this servant is also unsure. The little princess only said that there was something extremely urgent and insisted on seeing you at this time. Seeing her solemn expression, this servant thought that she had indeed encountered something serious, so I dared to wake you up."
"Has Jia Rou encountered something serious?" Xiao Jue frowned, getting up and dressing. "Let's go see."
Yan Jiarou was waiting in the main hall when she heard footsteps and quickly turned around. Seeing that it was Xiao Jue, she immediately ran towards him: "Crown Prince, I have something urgent to tell you!"
She was running so fast that she was about to bump into Xiao Jue. Xiao Jue quickly reached out to support her and helped her steady herself: "Jiarou, what's wrong so late?"
“Crown Prince, I…” Yan Jiarou stopped in her tracks, took off her hood, and it took her a while to catch her breath. Just as she was about to speak, she noticed Su Quan beside her, frowned slightly, and turned to Xiao Jue, saying, “Crown Prince, I have something very important to tell you. This matter must not be revealed. Could you please dismiss the servants…”
Xiao Jue glanced at Su Quan and said to Yan Jiarou, "It's alright. Su Quan knows about my affairs. Jiarou, please feel free to speak."
Since Xiao Jue had already said so, Yan Jiarou no longer hesitated. She looked up and stared directly into Xiao Jue's eyes, her brows furrowed: "Crown Prince, are you plotting a rebellion?"
As soon as he finished speaking, an eerie silence fell over the hall.
Su Quan looked up and wiped away a bead of cold sweat. He could only keep his eyes down and his mouth shut, remaining silent.
Xiao Jue lowered his head and rubbed the ring on his hand with an ambiguous expression.
The halo of light from the gilded dragon lantern stand beside him slanted across his profile. He lowered his eyelids, and his long eyelashes cast a dark shadow beneath his eyes.
After a long while, he looked up at Yan Jiarou and said slowly, "Jiarou, where did you hear such nonsense?"
"Crown Prince, don't lie to me anymore! I know everything!" Yan Jiarou looked at him, her emotions running high. "I came here to tell you to stop now! It's not too late to stop now, otherwise you'll be doomed forever!"
A crack finally appeared on Xiao Jue's calm face. He frowned as he looked at Yan Jiarou, a dark undercurrent churning in his eyes: "Jiarou, what exactly do you know?"
Yan Jiarou: "I told you, I know everything. But I can't tell you how I know. I can only tell you that if you continue to be so stubborn, you will not have a good ending!"
"Brother Crown Prince, do you think you're gambling? Do you think you have a 50% chance of winning? Is that why you're taking such a risky gamble? But let me tell you, this is a game you're destined to lose. Everything is planned and waiting for you to enter! If you really do it, all that awaits you is the indisputable crime of treason!"
"The only way to break this deadlock is to stop now, and everything will still be in time. Otherwise, your death is just three days away!"
As she spoke, she clung to Xiao Jue's arm, clearly in a hurry: "Crown Prince, please listen to my advice, I won't lie to you. Although I like Xiao Che more, I feel more guilty towards you. I won't harm you, I just want you to be alright, Crown Prince, please believe me."
Xiao Jueshen looked at her and patted her arm: "Jiarou, how could I not believe you?"
"Alright, you've said what you wanted to say. It's getting late, so you should go back and rest."
“But Crown Prince,” Yan Jiarou gripped his hand tightly, staring intently at him, “did you even listen to what I said?”
“Jiarou,” he looked at her intently, and simply said, “I understand.”
There was no definitive "good" or "bad," only an ambiguous "I understand."
Yan Jiarou was naturally not at ease, but having said all she could, she felt she had done her best. With a slight disappointment, she let go of his hand, glanced at him one last time, and said, "Brother Crown Prince, I have said all I can say. You... take care of yourself."
"Okay, let's go back." Xiao Jue reached out to help her tighten the sash, but paused slightly when his fingertips touched the side of her neck.
Yan Jiarou put her hood back on and walked away, turning back every few steps.
——
After Yan Jiarou left, Xiao Jue stood in the hall for a long time without moving. A breeze blew in through the slightly open windows, causing the flames of the gilded dragon-shaped candlesticks in the hall to flicker and sway, adding an eerie and sinister feeling to the atmosphere.
Seeing that Xiao Jue had not made a move for a long time, Su Quan finally couldn't help but ask, "Your Highness, how did the princess find out about this... and what are your plans next?"
Xiao Jue narrowed his eyes slightly, a sinister glint flashing within them: "How did she find out about this? Is there even a question? Who else could she have known besides Xiao Che?"
"Can't you smell her scent?"
Su Quan frowned slightly, puzzled, and asked, "Your Highness, what's that smell?"
Xiao Jue scoffed: "Forget it, why bother talking to a eunuch like you? The smell of sandalwood, you were castrated since childhood, you probably have never smelled this scent before."
"It's the middle of the night, and even the hickeys on the side of his neck are fresh. He must have just run away from Hanguang Palace while Xiao Che was fast asleep."
"In other words, Xiao Che already knows about my plot to rebel."
Su Quan's expression changed drastically. If the Third Prince found out about this, wouldn't the Emperor also find out? Then the Crown Prince would be implicated, and when the nest is overturned, no egg would remain unbroken: "Then what does Your Highness intend to do? Should you go and tell General Li Rong that the plan has changed?"
"The plan has naturally changed, but the deployment of troops will still proceed."
"What does Your Highness mean by this?"
Xiao Jue snorted coldly: "Judging from Jia Rou's words, Xiao Che plans to pretend that he knows nothing, and then capture me in one fell swoop after I send out troops, so that he can be convicted of treason."
"What a cunning and treacherous Xiao Che! It's a pity that no matter how much he planned, he couldn't have foreseen that one day he would be betrayed by the person next to him."
At this point, his gaze softened suddenly: "Jiarou still has feelings for me in her heart."
He closed his eyes tightly, raised his head, and his gaze gradually fell on a point in the void. He chuckled sinisterly, "He wanted to accuse me of treason, so naturally I'll return the favor by accusing him of the same thing."
"Tell Li Rong that the plan has changed. The operation, originally scheduled for 5 a.m., has been postponed by half an hour."
"Remember to be careful. Tell him in person when it's just the two of you that he has spies around him. This time, you must not let it slip again."
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